House Ethics Committee Revives Sexual Misconduct Investigation Into Matt Gaetz

The House Ethics Committee has breathed new life into the investigation of Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz.

For months, a federal grand jury investigated allegations the MAGA congressman participated in a scheme that including the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl.

A two-year criminal investigation into Gaetz began after the arrest of his friend, former Florida tax collector Joel Greenberg.

Greenberg eventually pleaded guilty to six federal crimes, including sex trafficking of a minor. District Judge Gregory Presnell sentenced him to 11 years in prison.

At one point, one of Gaetz's ex-girlfriends, a former congressional staffer, testified before a Seminole County, Florida, grand jury in the sex crimes investigation.

Prosecutors considered her a key witness. The ex, whose name was withheld by media outlets out of respect for her privacy, had talked with prosecutors about an immunity deal for months.

In February 2023, the Department of Justice informed Gaetz that he wouldn't be charged.

CNN has more on the latest developments:

Investigators from the House Ethics Committee have begun reaching out to witnesses as part of a recently revived investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, focused on allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, illicit drug use or other misconduct.

At least one witness in Florida told CNN they have spoken to investigators about the Republican congressman in recent weeks about alleged lobbying violations, and sources familiar with the Ethics Committee probe say other witnesses also have been contacted.

A source familiar with the House panel's work told CNN that the Justice Department's decision not to bring charges against Gaetz does not impact what the committee will and won't investigate. The committee plans to examine the same allegations they were looking into when they opened the investigation in 2021, the source told CNN.

The Ethics Committee, which at the time was controlled by Democrats, originally opened an investigation in 2021, publicly announcing that they were examining a range of allegations including that Gaetz violated sex trafficking laws, shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, converted campaign funds to personal use and accepted a bribe, among other claims.

Gaetz adamantly denies the allegations. Speaking to CNN Thursday, he said that the investigation is “not something I'm worried about; I'm focused on the work.”

“The Ethics Committee typically operates through leaks, and so this is no surprise, but the Ethics Committee has never found me to be in violation of House rules, though they've been investigating me during my entire seven years in Congress,” he added. “It's also funny that the one guy who doesn't take the corrupt lobbyist and PAC money seems to be under the most Ethics investigation.”

The Ethics Committee declined CNN's request for comment. Unlike other committees, it always has an equal number of Republicans and Democrats.

Its current chair is Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss. Guest and ranking member Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., decided to contact witnesses, the first formal step in the revived probe.

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